Back Post Double Crochet -BPdcInstructions: yo, insert hook into the back of your stitch (in other words from back to front), go in front of the post, pull through (3 loops on hook) bringing stitch up to height of previous stitch, yo, pull through 2 loops (2 loops remaining), yo, pull through remaining 2 loops to complete stitch

Front Post Slip Stitch- FPSl st – remove hook from loop insert hook, from front to back, in between NTchDc and next dc st, grab loop with hook and pull through, do notyarn over to complete sl st. You will be making the NTchDc st in next rnd with that loop.

Back Post Slip Stitch- BPSl st- remove hook from loop on hook, turn work insert hook between beg ch and next dc st form back to front, grab loop and pull through to back. Do not yarn overto complete sl st. You will be making the NTchDc in next rnd with that loop.

NBchDc, FPdc in each of the next 5 fpdc, *( ch2, trc around ch-2 and ch-3 of rnd 2 and 3 corners, ch 2) corner made, BPdc around each of the next 6 fpdc*FPdc around each of the next 6 fpdc, Repeat * to *FPSlst to NBchdc.

FPdc – front post double crochet: YO, insert hook from front to back around post of next st, YO and pull up a loop even with last st worked, and complete dc.

FPBN8 or 10--front post Bullion 8 or 10: Wrap yarn top to bottom toward you 8 or 10 times-as indicated by the number after BN-, insert hook from front to back around post of st indicated. YO pull loop through, YO pull loop through all loops on hook giving enough slack for bullion to stand up straight. (Do NOT ch 1 to close)

Rnd 1- Color A

Ch 6, sl st into first chain made to form ring. Ch 3, 11 dc into center of ring, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3. (12 dc)

Rnd 2

Join color B with sl st to any dc, (ch 3, dc, FPBN8) in same st-(see special sts you will be working 2 dc in same st, then FPB8 around the post of the same dc) *(2 dc, FPBN8) all in next st* Repeat from *to * around, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3, being careful to hold yarn behind work and between bullion and beg ch to work the sl st. (24 dc, 12 bullions)

Rnd 3

Sl st in between next 2 dc, ch 3, dc in same st, ch 1, (skip bullion, 2 dc in between the next 2 dc, ch 1) all the way around, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3. (24 dc, 12 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 4

Ch 1, sc in between next 2 dc, *FPBN8 around next BN from Rnd 2, keeping yarn behind hook and to the right of hook, sl st back into the same sp as last sc just made, ch 2, FPBN8 around same BN, sc between next 2 dc keeping yarn behind hook as above. * repeat from * to * around, sl st to 1st sc. Fasten off color A. (24 bullions, 12 sc, 12 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 5- Color B

Join color B with sl st to any ch-2 sp from rnd 4, (ch 3, 3 hdc) in same ch-2 sp, (4 hdc in each ch-2 sp) around, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3. Fasten off Color B-you may want to pull Color A through the last stitch made. (48 dc)

Monday, April 23, 2012

I recently had to minister to one of the convalescent homes I go to and wasnt sure what God wanted me to bring as a message. I had something in mind but I really wasn't certain that was what God wanted me to minister on.
It wasn't until that morning that God revealed a message to me. I woke up with a crochet design in my mind. It was the design of a cross afghan square. I very excitedly got up, got out my yarn and crochet hook and got to it. While I was crocheting God brought the verse in Psalm 139 to mind. "You are fearfully and wonderfully made."
I finished the design and brought it with me as my visual aid and was so grateful for God's perfect timing and wonderful message.

In crochet you start with a foundation row, and with this square you work in the round starting in the center and working your way around. Working from inside to the outside.
That is kind of like how we are and God's design for us. He puts a substance in us, the foundation, when he creates us. He has a purpose and plan for us and it's a good one. Life can often throw things at us that could mess up that design, at least that is Satan's plan. However when we are saved God takes over. Sometimes as a result of sin in us and around us there are flaws in the design. Sometimes we try to decide what we think the design should be and try to create it ourselves. Then we fail and falter and it is only when we submit to God everything we are, is he able to take those mistakes, tangles and snarls in the design and fix them. God may have to do some ripping back to correct those places. "Ouch" is an understatement. Usually it's our pride that hurts, or things don't go along with what we pinned our hopes on and it hurts to realize that that was not the right dream God had in mind.
Sometimes we get stuck on a row because we don't understand where it is leading us. We don't see how going in this particular direction will fit into the whole design. I have followed patterns where I couldn't see how the design was going to look like the picture until several rows were done, because the rows build on each other and only made the whole design take shape when I finished the next row. That can be a scary place to be. The anxiety builds and worry sets in. Will it come out ok? What will it look like to others if I'm mess this up? I don't understand this next stitch (step), it doesn't seem right. We can get frustrated and want to put the whole thing away and hide it somewhere so no one will see. We can get to a place where we dont' make any progress at all because we just don't trust the directions and in turn trust the one directing.
God wants our trust but he will never force us to make the next step. He waits patiently, but sometimes has to give us a little nudge to get to the next level. The next row can only be started by somehow getting from the top of the previous row to the top of next row. Often we have to chain up to get the height of the next stitches for the new row. In life we don't always feel we are ready to take that step in the next level. We don't feel prepared. But we have to stretch ourselves a little and work that beginning chain. Taking a leap of faith to step out to where God wants us.
And of course we all get frustrated sometimes when Jesus is on the inside working his way out but he is not showing through enough because our humanness often falls short. That is where we need the Holy Spirit to step in and fill the gaps, or support our previous efforts (stitches) to create the design God intended.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

The expected end is God's whole design for us. One with peace in its works.The good news is God knows what he is dong. Phew! I certainly don't. I don't have a clue and can't see the future. Good thing because I think if I did I would cower in fear of some of those rocky paths ahead. Or tricky stitches in this case. :)

Thursday, April 5, 2012

FPdc – front post double crochet: YO, insert hook from front to back around post of next st, YO and pull
up a loop even with last st worked, and complete dc.

FPBN8--front post Bullion 8: Wrap yarn top to bottom toward
you 8 times, insert hook from front to back around post of st indicated. YO
pull loop through, YO pull loop through all loops on hook giving enough slack
for bullion to stand up straight. (Do NOT ch 1 to close)

V-stitch: (fpdc, ch 2, fpdc) all in stitch indicated (worked
as front-post-dc around top of bullions).

Rnd 1- Color A

Ch 6, sl st into first chain made to form ring. Ch 3, 11 dc
into center of ring, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3. Fasten off color A.
(12 dc)

Rnd 2 – Color B

Join color B with sl st to any dc (ch3, dc, FPB8) in same
st-(see special sts you will be working 2 dc in same st, then FPB8 around the
post of the same dc) *( 2dc, FPB8) all in next st* Repeat *to * around, sl st
to 3rd ch of beg ch-3, being careful to hold yarn behind work and between
bullion and beg ch to work the sl st.. (24 dc, 12 bullions)

Rnd 3

Sl st in between the ch-3 & dc just made, ch 3, dc in
same st, ch 1, (skip bullion, 2 dc in between the next 2 dc, ch 1) all the way
around, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3. Place marker in any ch-1 sp. (24
dc, 12 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 4

Ch 1, sc in between next 2 dc, V-stitch (see special sts)
around top of next bullion, *skip ch-1 sp, sc in between next 2 dc, V-stitch
around top of next bullion* Repeat from * to * all the way around, sl st to beg
sc. Fasten off color B. (12 sc, 12 v-sts=24 fpdc, 12 ch-2 sps)

At this point if your square is 6 inches, fasten off. If it
is not, you may work an additional round in this manner: sc in every dc, 2 sc
in each ch-sp, (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner ch sps. (tested by Carleta3021)